Today is the quintessential spring day. Flowers and trees are all getting soaked with rain, taking in nutrients and filling up before the dry hot days of summer set in. Outside our windows we hear the sounds of spring - hungry calls from baby birds, splashing tires on wet pavement and an overall bustling feeling that says life is renewing.

I love spring. Really, I love all of the seasons. But, there is something about spring that speaks to new beginnings. And, weddings are all about new beginnings…and well, you know how much we love weddings.

We’re working on posting a wedding and a couple of engagement sessions from last weekend. As we finish up those edits, I thought we’d share with you a taste of spring here at Camp Bello. First, a little background…

In the last couple of years, Andy has become very taken by birds. Not birds as in the English slang for “ladies,” but birds of the feather variety. He’s got a few bird books that he keeps handy so he can identify new species as they make an appearance in our yard. One of the books even allows you to play the bird’s call, to further help with identification. And, sometimes I catch him trying to mimic the calls. He’s so cute.

There are more than a few feeders scattered around our yard, some on polls, some on trees, some hanging from trees, not to mention nearly 100 pounds of seed in the shed. And, since he started caring for these feathery creatures, we’ve noticed that our yard has become a popular nesting ground for a whole host of species - robin, blue jay, tufted titmouse, various sparrows, Baltimore Orioles, grackles (of which, I admit, I’m not a huge fan. They’re noisy and like to gather in groups to squawk in the early morning hours. Not fun.) and others.

Last spring, we even had a visit from a couple of wild pheasants. They were beautiful…..though I don’t remember what kind they were. It’s not uncommon to see rabbits hopping across our lawn with the feeding birds. And last winter, we had porcupine tracks in the snow. Ironically, we live on a pretty busy street.

All of this wildlife provides a wonderful reminder of our role in a larger ecosystem, one that relies on us to make smart choices that ensure nature’s resources are protected so that we all might enjoy a longer stay here on this beautiful planet.

As we all take a collective gasp in horror at the disaster in the gulf, here are some small, but sweet, reminders of the joy that is Mother Nature.

These Robin eggs were from last spring. And, I’m happy to report that all 4 hatched and successfully left the nest.

These sweet little birds are song sparrows. You would not believe how tiny they are….no bigger than the size of your little finger. Their nest is in a low lying and super dense conifer tree in our backyard. You have to peel back branches to see it. And, when we did, all the little birds must have sensed the light (their eyes aren’t yet formed enough to open) as they lifted their necks in unison, with mouths wide open, hoping for food from their attentive parents, who were kicking up a stink from a nearby tree at our intrusion. Sorry momma & papa sparrow.

We hope these photos bring a little sunshine to your day today. Thanks for visiting!

Chris & Andy xoxo